Carroll 250: Accidental Citizen: Major General von Steuben and the American Revolution

Learn about Friederich Wilhelm von Steuben's  journey from a military adventurer to an American military icon with presenter Joseph Seymour.

Often dismissed as an opportunist, a martinet, and even an imposter, Friederich Wilhelm von Steuben proved to be among the more unlikely American revolutionaries. Born in Magdeburg, young Friederich Wilhelm grew up in the army and followed his father in a military career, rising through the ranks of the army of Frederick the Great. He served in several campaigns during the Seven Years War, including being wounded in battle in Russia. In 1777, he traveled to the Court of Versailles in the hopes of gaining a commission in the army of King Louis XVI. Instead, he soon found himself in the service of a much different army: the Continental Army’s encampment at Valley Forge.

Serving as a volunteer without pay or formal rank, von Steuben soon fell to the task of drilling George Washington’s army. His efforts paid off, and in June 1778, a newly reorganized and thoroughly drilled Continental Army marched out of Valley Forge, thanks in no small measure to his efforts. He remained in the new nation following the war, his financial fortune waning. Like so many Continental Army veterans, the old soldier died in Oneida County, New York, obscure and impoverished. Von Steuben’s career in the Continental Army mirrored that of so many Continental Army veterans. He performed inestimable service to his adopted country, but in his lifetime achieved neither great fame nor material wealth. 

As the decades passed, successive generations of Americans, many of whom, like von Steuben, were new arrivals from Germany, came to recognize the old drillmaster for his service in the founding of the country. They took pride in his achievements and elevated him as a symbol of the contributions of German immigrants to the establishment of the United States. 

About the Presenter 

Joseph Seymour was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. He attended Lewis and Clark College, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Edinburgh, and Temple University, earning a BA and an MA. He served as an intern at the home headquarters of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) while in Scotland. Joseph also served in Troop A, 1^st Squadron, 104^th Cavalry Regiment, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and has worked as an Army historian since 2004. Joseph’s primary professional focus has been on organizational history, the history and culture of the American soldier in the 18^th century, and the evolution of small arms and tactics during that era. His works include The Pennsylvania Associators, 1747-1777, and articles in American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin and Military Collector & Historian.

This program is part of the Carroll 250 Speaker Series celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence.